Seaward

At the risk of sounding overblown, this is one of the most heartstoppingly, breathtakingly beautiful pieces of literature I've ever experienced. I've had a long and fruitful acquaintance with Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series, but I didn't read Seaward until my sophomore year of college, which is a great shame. This book will just suck you in, and if you're at all inclined to cry at what you read in books, this will have you in tears. The relationship between Cally and Westerly is touching and very believable - the way it unfolds is fascinating. The interplay between Lugan and Taranis provides a thought-provoking counterpoint to their relationship, as do the other relationships seen in the book. This story also includes Cooper's own favourite character, Peth, who has to be seen (or read) to be believed. The setting of the book is also wonderful - it incorporates elements of the Britanno-Celtic myths and legends that permeate so much of Cooper's work, as well as other recurring themes to do with light and dark, and things not being what they seem. The books also incorporates some elements that show Cooper's fascination with time, and also includes a fantastical dreamlike setting that is at times reminiscent of Lewis Carroll's work. This books is truly amazing, read it without preconceptions and with an open heart and mind and I will be astonished if you find it disappointing. Even if the lessons and discoveries of Cally and Westerly aren't new to you, they are so beautifully described in this book that I can't imagine anyone being unmoved by them.

In strictest terms, as a story, this book fails miserably. It's more a "slice of life" tale than a book with an actual plot and developed characters. Don't misunderstand me, it's not slow or confusing -- but this book is utterly lacking in closure or an "appropriate" ending. In short, it breaks all the rules of good novel-writing.But in spite of that, this book is absolutely magnificient. It is a philosophical treatise lightly hidden by a Celticish story. It amazes me that so many people totally miss the philosophical side of this book, or think it is a book merely about life and death and grieving, or growing up and establishing oneself. All these elements are certainly present, but the grande finale, the climax of the book is when West and Cally are told the reason for their adventure: The philosophical statement here is that the reason for the existance of evil is that without evil, man would not be able to see good -- you cannot realise the existance of light if you've never seen the dark. This is the culmination of this book. The consequence is moral, political, religious, and philosophical.It's a good read. Good because if you consider it, and apply it, this book could change your whole world-view.And that is what makes a classic.

This book is one of the most beautiful love stories ever crafted. I think Susan Cooper is a genius of description and this story about two young people dealing with loss shows her skill admirably. West and Cally experience deep, true love being born in them out of trust and shared experience. This book has all the fantasy and detailed dreamlike settings you come to expect from Susan Cooper, and the only problem with this book is that the peripheral characters, even the main antagonists, are pale in comparison with Cally and West. S.C. has created such strong, rich, personalities for the two of them that the others can't match up. This fact, however, does not really detract from the book, because this really is a story of what happens inside West's and Cally's minds and hearts after their great losses. The other characters are there to personify traits and abstracts; good, evil, loyalty, etc. If you are looking for a smart, deep fantasy story with a dash of powerful romance thrown in (the description of West watching Cally wash her hair is one of the most heartstopping bits I've ever read), read Seaward. You won't be disappointed.

I first read this book in 7th grade, after reading Dark is Rising. It was instantly my favourite. Years have passed. I am now in college, and I lost the book somewhere in early high school. A couple of weeks ago I was somehow reminded of the story, but couldn't remember the title. I spent hours combing through stacks of young adult fiction to find the cover I remember so well! I am so pleased that I have found Seaward again! I am now happily reunited with my favourite fantasy! I wholeheartedly recommend Seaward to everyone who dreams of true love, myths and romance, and mansized mosquito men! Brilliantly crafted.

I have recently re-read this book for the fifth time. I first read it in 1995, after reading, and loving, 'The Dark Is Rising' sequence and 'Dawn of Fear'. My expectations of 'Seaward' were that it would be similar to the first of these - a kind of epilogue to 'The Dark Is Rising'. It wasn't, I couldn't understand the book, and disliked it. A couple of years later I heard someone remark that it was a book about life and death. Having recently lost my grandmother I decided to re-read 'Seaward'. My impressions of the book the second time around were very different from the first. I have re-read the book several times since then and have found, each time, that it has something fresh to say. It does speak about life and death - or perhaps ways of living and dying would be a more accurate description. It also speaks powerfully about friendship, of many different kinds of love, of hanging in there and not giving up too easily when the going gets tough and, like the others of Susan Cooper's books that I have read, of good, evil and the often deceptive or at least confusing faces each of these wears. It is a book for all seasons.